Nappy Roots pumps up the crowd in Columbia

Derrick Ming, Corner Post staff

Oct. 17, 2002 - Kentucky rappers Nappy Roots rocked Jesse Auditorium tonight with songs from their multi-platinum album "Watermelon, Chicken and Gritz." Local and regional acts T.C. and Hazards to Your Booty warmed up the crowd before Nappy Roots took the stage.

Hazards to Your Booty, a group from Truman State University in Kirksville was the first to open for the Roots. Booty welcomed the crowd with old style music from the 1970s with a modern twist. Their music moved the audience to the front of the room where they all began to dance with the beat of the songs.

Photo by Derrick Ming  Hazard to Your Booty rocked the Mizzou crowd in a cool manner.

"They had great rhythm and intensity while singing," Brandon Barnes, MU junior, said. "That's what made me enjoy them."

T.C. - an MU football player - displayed his off-the-field talent on the microphone as he followed Hazard to Your Booty on stage. T.C. pumped up an already-intense crowd when he took the mike and began to rap. His energetic performance on stage brought his emotion to people in the crowd.

"He got me so hyped up, I had to sit down to keep myself from acting crazy," Blair Hines said.

A St. Louis native, T.C. said he always dreamed of opening for a platinum rap group in his home state.

"I knew that if I worked hard enough, the sky would be my limit," T.C. said.

Gary Anthony, T.C.'s longtime friend, said he was happy to see T.C.'s dream come true, as well as see him perform for an audience and before a successful rap group.

"I was there when no one had faith in him," Anthony said.

After T.C. performed, the crowd screamed in anticipation as camera flashes lit the room. Nappy Roots finally took the stage, rapping songs from their newest album. The group rapped songs the audience knew, such as radio successes "All My Life," "Been PO" and "Awnah."

Other musical highlights included a tribute to slain rappers Tupac Shakur and Biggie "The Notorious B.I.G." Smalls, as well as a musical tribute to the victims of last September's terrorist attacks in New York, Washington, D.C., and Shanksville, Pa. Particularly touching for MU student Desiree Harden was Nappy Roots' prayer for the terrorist attack's victims.

"That showed me that they care about other things in life and not just their success," Harden said.

MU freshman Brandon Smith, a Kentucky native, said he was excited to see the Roots live after months of hearing them on the radio.

"I will never forget this night as long as I live," Smith said.

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